TEACHING TO GIVE
by Lynn Parker

The new babe in Christ came up from the baptistery and had barely dried off the water when he asked, Now that I'm a Christian, how much should I give?"  Here was a sincere question asked by one truly converted.  He wanted to know.  He was looking for instruction and guidance.  He was eager to please his Lord.  What would you tell him?  What would the example of the church as a whole teach him?  If he knew the incomes of the various families in the church along with the amount of the families contribute, he might be awfully surprised and discouraged.  So that we can please God, set the proper example, and help the work of the church, let us examine some common errors made in regard to giving.

SOME ERRORS EXAMINED…

ERROR #1: "My money is my business--no one else is to know my finances."

Wrong!  Certainly we are not to give to receive glory from men.  Jesus stated, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven" (Mt 6:1).  At the same time, the Bible teaches that the church is to withdraw fellowship from a brother who is covetous and refuses to repent (1 Cor 5:11).  Biblically, the use of one's money might very well be the business of other brethren.  From a practical standpoint, someone else does indeed know what you give.  Several men pass a collection plate and take up the money.  Someone counts the monies contributed.  Someone makes the deposits.  Are these brethren in sin for seeing the cash or check cast in the plate by the many members of the congregation?  Of course not.

ERROR #2: "The amount is not important as long as I give cheerfully."

The amount is important to God.  In fact, the proper attitude along with proper teaching will produce a proper amount.  Even the dried-up, wrinkled old heart of the miser can force a smile when he drops a mere dollar into the collection plate and all the while could have given a hundred. The Bible teaches that one is to give "as God hath prospered him" (1 Cor 16:2).  In addition to giving proportionately, one must be a liberal giver.

But this I say, "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:6-7).

The faithful saints of a previous dispensation gave no less than (and quite a bit more than) a tenth of what they had.  Are we not to learn from these examples (Rom 15:4)?  Living under the New Testament is not an excuse to do less.

A family might make $25,000 a year and yet give only $25 a week. That is approximately five percent of the yearly income.  If a man's yearly income is $50,000 and he gives $50 weekly that is still just a hair above 5%.  The latter, at $50,000 yearly, would need to give $96.15 weekly just to be at ten percent of his income.  Someone asked a thought-provoking question on percentages: "Could you survive if God took your contribution, multiplied it by ten, and gave that to you as your total income?"

Remember too, that as income increases, so should your contribution. Bonuses are not exempt.  Pay raises need to be taken into account when purposing our giving.  And it never hurts when we UP our giving even without a raise.  While we are thinking about it, teach your children to give as they begin to earn money.

ERROR #3:   "I do not have much money, so I contribute time and talents."

This is not an "either/or" choice.  God expects the best of us.  The best of our talents?  Yes.  The best of our time?  That's right.  All are to give--the wealthy and the poor.  A poor widow was commended for giving when she cast in two mites because she gave "all that she had" while others gave from their abundance (Mk 12:42-44).  There is no Bible authority for substitution in this matter.

ERROR #4:  "I would give more if I did not have all these other obligations."

Can a child of God ever justify giving God the leftovers?  King David refused to offer to God that which cost him nothing (2 Sam 24:24).  Malachi rebuked the people for offering to God the blind, lame, or sick animal sacrifice.  "And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts (Mal 1:8).

Our busying habits should take into account, first and foremost, our giving.  Errol Flynn, certainly not the picture of a spiritual man, spoke for many church members when he said, "My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income."  Think of the spiritual damage one does to self and family when he commits to a large mortgage payment and then robs God to make up the difference. 
The largest savings account will not afford a bit of comfort when one has drawn his last breath.  James wrote, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.  Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (Js 5:1-3).

Giving is not only an obligation but also a privilege.  As a Christian, you are part of the precious blood-bought body of God's Son.  Your giving is an indicator of just how important the church is in your life.  Your Lord is watching the hand and the heart that contributes this Sunday.

CHURCH HISTORY: A BIBLICAL VIEW
Part III - No. 17 Compiled and written by Gary Eubanks

I. Public Worship The changes in doctrine and worship which had been introduced during the Ante-Nicene Age (100-325 A.D.) continued to build and accelerate during the Nicene Age (325-600 A.D.). The public services of the (apostate) church were divided into two parts. The first part was open to whoever desired to attend and included Bible reading, singing, the sermon, and prayer. Even though the Fourth and Fifth Centuries are said to have produced some great preachers, preaching was mostly confined to the large urban churches. In the churches of the countryside, and some even of cities, sermons were not common. The prayers which were offered before and after the sermon were in liturgical form. The public portion of the service was followed by the Lord's Supper. This was the most sacred part of the service, and from it the unbaptized were excluded. Continuous efforts were made to increase the dramatic solemnity of the Lord's Supper. This was done primarily by increasing emphasis upon the mysterious presence of Christ in the elements, though East and West differed as to the moment when He supposedly began to be present in them. In the East the iconostasis was eventually put into use, This was a screen or partition on which icons (sacred images or pictures) were placed and which concealed the priest from the congregation while the former celebrated the Lord's Supper.

II. Sacred Days and Seasons The older festivals, Easter and Pentecost, retained their importance in the passing of time, but others of growing importance were also added. Easter was preceded by the Lenten period of forty days, which was a time of fasting and penitence. By the Fourth Century the Ascension was also generally observed, but the chief festive additions were Epiphany and Christmas. Originally, it was the East which observed Epiphany, a celebration of Christ's manifestation in His birth and baptism. Epiphany was observed on January 6th. Christmas, December 25th, was originally a Western holy day honoring the birth of Christ. As time went by, East and West adopted one another's celebrations, though with different emphases. The East began to emphasize Epiphany as a celebration of Christ's baptism while in the West it became a celebration of Christ's appearance to the Magi (wise men). Though various explanations have been given as to the origin of Christmas and its related customs, it cannot be doubted that its observance was heavily influenced by pagan practices. Two great pagan festivals, Sol Invictus (which celebrated the lengthening of the sun's rays), and Saturnalia, occurred about December 25th, and various aspects of them were incorporated by the (apostate) church into the celebration of Christ's birth.

III. Veneration of Sacred Persons, Relics, and Icons Veneration of martyrs and their relics became increasingly popular. Not only their remains but anything associated with them was highly regarded. Pilgrimages to places where these relics were preserved were also considered marks of special piety. The deaths of martyrs were commemorated in church services, and they were also remembered in prayers. Thus, it was easy to make the shift from a remembrance to an appeal to martyrs and saints in prayer. The feeling had arisen by the close of the Fourth Century that martyrs and saints could make special intercession with God if requested to do so. It was thought that they were able to protect, heal, and aid. They were made guardians of cities, patrons of trades, and curers of disease. In effect, then, the saints and martyrs were made to replace the old pagan gods and goddesses.

The most important of the sacred persons was Mary, the mother of Jesus. As usual, popular elevation of Mary preceded any official recognition of her status. It was naturally thought that the one chosen to be the mother of the Lord deserved special esteem. She was placed above any martyr or apostle and, hence, was thought to be able to dispense blessings in greater abundance than even they. She filled the gap left by the abandonment of the great pagan mother-goddesses of the East. During the Nicene and Ante-Nicene Ages the doctrine of her perpetual virginity began to be pressed, especially by those who highly valued the celibate life. However, the Scriptures make it clear that she had sexual relations with her husband, Joseph, following the birth of Jesus (cp. Matt. 1:24,25; Lk. 2:7; I Cor. 7:1-5; Mk. 3:31,32; 6:3; Jn. 2:12; 7:3-5; Acts 1-.14).

ARE HARD TIMES AN EXCUSE FOR POOR GIVING?
by Todd Clippard

Are Hard Times an Excuse for Poor Giving? In his book, A Little Contribution: Man and His Money brother Roy Lanier Jr asked the following question, "Are the hard times of the economy for the United States a good excuse to give less to the Lord's work?" (96). Now, before we go one step further, let me make it clear I am not affirming that one who has lost his job or suffered a significant reduction in income is expected to give as he has in better times past. Such would not only be foolish, but anti-scriptural (1 Cor 16:1-2).  I'm talking about the one who says, "I'd better cut back on my contribution in case things get bad for me," or, in case of a "rainy day."

When the national or local economy declines, a general spirit of pessimism pervades in the business world and unfortunately, in the Lord's church. If the contribution goes down, people excuse it, saying, "folks just aren't spending any money right now." This belies a false view of what our weekly giving is all about. Giving to the Lord's work is not "spending money;" it is worship, and as such, must be done diligently and sacrificially. Consider the contribution given to Paul by the church in Macedonia as seen in 2 Corinthians 8-9. Though they were in a great trial of affliction and in deep poverty (8:2), they were able to give "beyond their power" because they "first gave their owns selves to the Lord" (8:3, 5). In giving without reference to personal desires, Paul reassured them, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19).

We must have faith that God will provide for us in the same way Paul promised the Philippians. There are numerous promises given of blessings to be received when we give as God desires. Consider the following: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye use, it shall be measured back to you"  Luke 6:38 . . .

"Therefore, do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' . . . for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" Matthew 6:31-33

"But this I say, He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man as he has purposed in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly nor of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, having sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work" 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

Do we give in such a way as to express our faith in the promises and providence of God? We should, for God is not slack concerning His promises. Therefore, let us embrace these promises with the full assurance of faith that God will always provide.

Finally, if the time comes when our spending must be reduced, let's be sure to put the Lord's work at the bottom of the list of places to cut back. We put the Lord first by placing Him last in this regard.

You may give without loving, but you cannot really love without giving.

“He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.  Every man according as he has purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7